For more than 25 years, University of Florida students have marked the end of classes with a bar crawl known as Gator Stompin’.
As the event returns tonight, students are being asked to do more than shots. For the first time, organizers are providing $10 discounts to participants who pledge to do five hours of community service within the next year. “We’ve really tried to make it a more responsible event that everyone would be proud of having at their university,” said Jason Bowman, director of operations for the event. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 1,700 students had pledged to do community service. The pledge marks the continuing evolution of Gator Stompin’ beyond being just a bar crawl at the end of fall and spring semesters. As UF President Bernie Machen has made a priority of discouraging excessive drinking, event organizers have expanded food offerings and made other changes.
UF officials have noticed the difference.